Alert after man tries to abduct schoolgirl

By Charles Graham

The 12-year-old put up a fight and managed to flee the grasp of the stranger who accosted her while she was waiting for a bus.

Officers today appealed for details leading to the would-be abductor’s arrest.

It was at around 9.20pm on Tuesday, December 1 - the girl was standing at a bus stop on Kendal Road, Higher Ince, in the Wigan area when a car stopped.

The driver asked if she wanted a lift and when she said no, she began to walk off.

He followed her before he asked again and when she ran, he tried to grab her. The girl managed to kick him before he drove off.

He is described as having light brown skin, in his 20s or 30s, of skinny build, had black hair that was shaved at the back and sides but with a fringe on top, had dark eyebrows, thin face, spoke with an eastern European accent, wore a black leather jacket with a black body warmer over the top and dark jeans.

The car was a small blue-coloured vehicle with a noisy exhaust, it is also thought to have had a rear spoiler.

Det Con Suzanne Rigby said: “Obviously the girl has been left upset by what happened and we are doing all we can to trace the offender.

“After he got into the car, he drove along Kendal Road heading away from Belle Green Lane.

“I would ask anyone who may have seen this car, which we believe maybe a Peugeot, to contact police.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 7124 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.